Customs to workshop cargo in transit issues

Overborder acquittals will be part of agenda ALAN PEAT THE ISSUE of penalties being imposed for overborder acquittals not being confirmed with customs within a 30-day deadline is still being negotiated between the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and SA Revenue Service (SARS) customs, according to Saaff adviser Dave Watts. FTW has heard, but has not yet had confirmed, that the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) had suggested a possible basic fine of R5 000. The problem with complying with this demand, Watts added, is that even when it has been confirmed that goods have crossed the border, it can still take days or weeks to get the release back. This, in many cases, makes that 30-day deadline impossible to meet. In the dealings up to now, SARS has requested that the association communicate its concerns and the reasons why the deadline cannot be met. This, said the authorities, will be taken into consideration in assessing whether a further extension will be given. That would comply with the previous policy – where concessions were granted in problematic situations, said Watts. “Customs are looking at this,” he told FTW, “and are due to be coming back to me.” Watts added that the association’s expectation was that customs would set up a workshop to cover all the cargoes-in-transit issues – with the penalties on acquittals one item on this agenda.